Washington College and Mount Vernon

During Orientation, all incoming students make the pilgrimage to George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens to reaffirm their commitment to the Honor Code—their promise to conduct themselves with honesty and integrity in pursuit of the highest academic and social standards.

Four years later, graduating seniors return to Mount Vernon to mark the successful completion of their degrees and celebrate with a river cruise on the Potomac, tours of the estate, and a champagne toast.

Mount Vernon also plays host to the awarding of the George Washington Book Prize. Last June, the 2012 winner Maya Jansanof, received the $50,000 prize at a black-tie dinner for her book Liberty’s Exiles: American Loyalists in the Revolutionary World.

“George Washington’s character is very much in evidence at Mount Vernon,” notes President Mitchell Reiss. “By forging a stronger connection between our students and our founding patron, we reinforce the enduring values that we all strive to emulate.”

The Class of 2015 and the peer mentors visited Mt. Vernon, home to Washington College’s namesake, to sign the honor code and pay tribute to George Washington’s legacy. The Class of 2015 was the first class to...